fter Christmas, near midnight.

After the curtain rises, one hears the noise of a file scraping
on iron. It comes apparently from outside the house at a point
distant from the dining room. The filing is repeated cautiously,
with a wait between each stroke, as though the person using the
file had paused to listen.

Alice Gardner enters at centre, carrying a lighted candle in a
silver candlestick. She wears a dressing gown, with swan's down
around her throat and at the edges of her sleeves. Her feet are
in bedroom slippers topped with fur. Her hair hangs down in a
braid. After listening intently to the sound of the file, she
places candle on sideboard and goes to telephone. She speaks in a
whisper.

ALICE:
Hello, Central. Hello, Central.
(Impatiently)
Wake up! Wake up! Is that you, Central? Give me the station
agent at Bedford Junction--quick. What? I CAN'T speak louder.
Well, you MUST hear me. Give me the station agent at Bedford
Junction. No, there's always a man there all night. Hurry,
please, hurry.
(There is a pause, during which the sound of the file grows louder.
Alice listens apprehensively.)
Hello, are you the station agent? Good! Listen! I am Miss
Gardner, James K. Gardner's daughter. Yes, James K. Gardner, the
president of the road. This is his house. My mother and I are
here alone. There are three men trying to break in. Yes,
burglars, of course. My mother is very ill. If they frighten her
the shock might--might be very serious. Wake up the crew, and send
the wrecking train here--at once. Send--the--crew--of--the--
wrecking train here--quick. What? Then fire up an engine and get
it here as fast as you can.

VOICE:
(calling from second story)
Alice!

ALICE:
(at telephone)
Yes, you have. The up-track's clear until "52" comes along.
That's not until--

VOICE:
(Louder)
Alice!

ALICE:
(with dismay)
Mother!
(At telephone)
Hello, hold the wire. Don't go away!
(Runs to curtains, parts them, and looks up as though speaking to
some one at top of stairs)
Mother, why AREN'T you in bed?

VOICE:
Is anything wrong, Alice?

ALICE:
No, dear, no. I just came down to--get a book I forgot. Please go
back, dearest.

VOICE:
I heard you moving about. I thought you might be ill.

ALICE:
No, dearest, but YOU'LL be very ill if you d